Maldivian charged over migrant worker death

The prosecutor general’s office has charged a Maldivian man over the death of a Bangladeshi migrant worker in Kaafu atoll Himmafushi island.

The 38-year-old was found dead in August inside Life Beverages water bottling plant, where he worked.

PG spokesman Ahmed Thaufeeq said the unnamed Maldivian was charged with non-consensual touching and criminal coercion.

Two Maldivians were initially arrested over the death – the bottling plant’s manager and the security guard.

While the guard was remanded to prison until the end of investigation, the manager was released because the court found police to be in violation of the new criminal procedure act because the officer was not wearing a uniform at the time of the arrest.

The police forwarded two cases to the PG office over the migrant worker’s death. However, public prosecutors are yet to press charges against a second suspect.

“We have not made a decision yet. We may press charges or sent it back to the police,” Thaufeeq said.

There have been no arrests yet in the case of a Bangladeshi migrant worker found dead with head wounds at a construction site.

Bangladeshi Ambassador Rear Admiral Akhtar Habib spoke to the Maldives Independent earlier this month, expressing concern over the recent deaths of Bangladeshi nationals in the Maldives.

“There have been 30 deaths this year up to September. And most of the workers coming here are young. Their deaths should be properly confirmed.”

He stressed the importance of access to healthcare for migrant workers, calling on authorities to closely monitor workplace safety measures.